Sugar maple wood?

[Nathan Sleyster]

Has anyone ever heard of or used sugar maple wood for smoke? I've been told it's a hard wood, but wasn't sure if it was any good for smoking.

 

[K Straker]

I have used it and it's very nice. Sometimes I mix it with apple or red oak.

 

[CullenJ]

Oh yeah. Good stuff. It's got a sweet smoke that really compliments pork and chicken. I like to use it with pork chops and steaks.

 

[Mike R. (Heyworth)]

Big sugar maple fan here. Very nice for chicken and pork, as others have mentioned. If you want a nice mild smoke, maple is great.

 

[Gerry D.]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Nathan Sleyster:
Has anyone ever heard of or used sugar maple wood for smoke? I've been told it's a hard wood, but wasn't sure if it was any good for smoking. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sugar maple is great smoke wood. I use it all the time. I like to mix it in with my fruit woods. It actually is similar to fruit woods in regards to smoke.

 

[Nathan Sleyster]

Thanks for the responses. I have plenty of it (as in an entire tree) that got basically eaten alive by aphids and is slowly dying. Guess I'll cut down a branch at a time as I need smoke wood!

 

[Jay Rogers]

I'd recommend seasoning sugar maple for 6-9 months. It'll give off harsh smoke if used when green.

 

[CliffCarter]

Best if you cut the whole thing down, cut it to length, split it and season it in a dry place (or at least cover when it rains if it's outside) for the 6-9 months suggested previously.

 

[TravisH]

Agree. It needs to "season" ie dry out.

 

[Ken Serwatowski]

I love it and mix it with other woods. It is however the only wood I use for smoking salmon. My salmon is a very easy brine but it gets the best reviews since switching to sugar maple exclusively, Ken

 

[Nathan Sleyster]

Thanks for the tips. Looking forward to whacking that tree down.